Barbara Latkowski
Caledonia Courier
A New Gold Blackwater Information Session was held at the community centre in Fort St. James on Feb. 10.
Community members were encouraged to pop in to the public comment period, view the information boards, enjoy some refreshments and ask any questions about the project.
New Gold Inc. is proposing the construction and operation of an open pit gold and silver mine located approximately 160 kilometres southwest of Prince George and 110 kilometres southwest of Vanderhoof, BC.
The proposed Blackwater Gold Project is currently undergoing a provincial and federal environmental assessment.
New Gold is an intermediate gold mining company and according to the company, their objective is to be the leading intermediate gold producer, focused on the environment and social responsibility.
The proposed Blackwater Gold Project has a 17 year mine life with proven and probable reserves of 8.2 million ounces of gold and 60.8 million ounces of silver with the potential to produce 485,000 ounces of gold per year for the first nine years.
The project includes a transmission line about 140 kilometres long that will connect the mine site to the existing substation located in Endako.
Throughout 2015, New Gold gathered community information and engaged with local communities and First Nations to learn how to build and operate the proposed Blackwater Mine to best benefit area residents, current and future employees, businesses, contractors and the environment.
“It’s so good to be able to get out into the communities and connect with them,” said Claudette Gouger, community manager at New Gold Blackwater Project.
According to Blackwater, the projected expenditures including for the construction of Blackwater will be approximately $1.576 billion.
They expect to employ 1,000+ workers during construction and employ 500 full-time employees to operate the mine.
Other information sessions were held in Quesnel, Burns Lake and Prince George.
For more information about the project, visit: www.newgold.com/blackwater